Sept. 13, 2024 ~ The following messages were sent to Olathe Public Schools staff and families on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024 and Friday, Sept. 13, 2024 regarding rumored, noncredible, vague threats circulating in the Kansas City metro area. 

Message 09.10.24

Olathe Public Schools families and staff,

As you may have seen in the news, there has been a social media post circulating with a vague threat of a school shooting. No specific school was mentioned nor was any Olathe Public Schools building mentioned. However, we know this post has been circulating within our communities and across the metro, which has caused some concerns.
Please know that upon being made aware of the rumored threat, our district Safety Services department and local law enforcement investigated the situation and, at this time, we do not believe the threat is directed to Olathe Public Schools or that our students or staff are in any danger.

We want to assure you that when concerns about a specific threat to a specific school arise, our process is to communicate directly with that community to ensure they are aware. Our district safety services department has close relationships with the Olathe Police Department and safety personnel metro-wide who work together when rumored threats like these arise.

We are thankful to those who feel comfortable reaching out to our trusted staff members with this kind of information. We encourage you to have a discussion with your student about the seriousness with which we take all matters related to threats and rumors, as well as what to do if they hear concerning comments either online or in person.   
Olathe Public Schools

Message 09.13.24

Important Message Regarding Noncredible Threats to Olathe Public Schools, 09.13.24 

Olathe Public Schools families, high school students, and staff:  

We wanted to follow up with our community after receiving several additional calls, emails and messages following the districtwide email sent out earlier this week about vague and/or noncredible threats circulating on social media in the Kansas City metro. Thank you to those who have reported threats. We want you to know that when threats of any kind are reported, our administrators work diligently alongside our district Safety Services team and the Olathe Police Department to immediately conduct a thorough investigation. We take every report seriously and will follow our protocol to ensure our buildings are safe. 

At this time, we assure you we have investigated every report we have received and there is no credible threat to students, staff or our buildings in Olathe Public Schools.   

In Olathe Public Schools, we believe we are stronger when we work together as a team – especially when it comes to the safety and security of our schools. Please follow the steps below to help keep students safe:  

1. Report Concerns Directly to the District/School/Police: Please report any threats toward Olathe Public Schools, your school, students or staff directly to your building administrator, your local police department, or on our tip line located on our district website and mobile app. Please include screenshots, names of the person who posted the threat and any other specific details.  

3. Do Not Share Posts on Social Media: Please do not post or repost threat information, either on social media (including Snapchat) or via text to anyone else. The more rumored threats spread, the longer it takes to investigate and the more confusion it causes for our families. We value our staff members’ and law enforcement’s time and resources, and we want to remove any barriers that would delay an efficient investigation. 
4. Talk to Your Student: Please review our Student Code of Conduct and have a conversation with your child about the seriousness with which we must take all matters related to threats. Even words or social media posts intended to be a joke can elicit safety concerns and serious disciplinary consequences. 

If we all commit to following the actions above, our administrators, Safety Services team, and local law enforcement partners can efficiently and effectively respond with a full investigation, rather than managing confusion and chaos it can cause in our communities.  

Safety is always our number one priority, and we will always respond swiftly to ensure our district is safe. Please visit www.olatheschools.org/safety to learn more about our district Safety Services team and our multi-tiered approach to safety protocols. We are committed to providing a safe learning environment for all our students and staff. Thank you for your continued support and trust in our schools.  

Olathe Public Schools Administration